George schmitt



(No Model.)

G. SCHMITT.

y EXTENSION TABLE. No. 416,424. Patented Dec. 8, 1889.

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zontal section on the line y y in Fig. 3 and latch device used to lockthe extensible end UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE SCHMITT, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

EXTENSION-TABLE.

`SlIECIFICJATIOLT forming part of Letters Patent No. 416,424, datedDecember 3, 1889.

Application tiled April 25, 1889.

To all whom may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE SCHMITT, of the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented a new and Improved Extension-Table, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description. f'

My invention relates to extensible tables adapted more especially fordining-rooms, but applicable for use where almost any table would beserviceable; and the invention has for its object to provide a simple,substantial, and readily-adjustable table of this character.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction andcombinations of parts of theextension-table, all as hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a central longitudinal sectional elevation of my improvedextension-table, taken on the line Ir x in Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is an invertedplan View thereof with parts in horiwith other parts broken away. Fig. 3is a vertical transverse section `taken through one endY portion orframe of the table and on the line z z in Fig. l, and Figs. t and 5 aredetail bottom plan and sectional side views of a sections of the tableto the main top thereof.

The table shown iu the drawings is made with two opposite end frames orbox-like parts A A, which are each supported on legs B, fourcentrally-disposed legs being preferred on each end frame of a heavytable. As both frames A A are made substantially alike, a detaileddescription of one frame will answer for both of them, as follows: Theend frames are each made with an end wall a and two opposite side wallsa af, secured thereto and braced by a cross-bar d2, which is fixedcomparatively near the end wall a and about at the point from which theslatted or flexible portion of the table-top rolls out of and into theframe, as hereinafter more fully explained.' Longitudinally-raugingboards or pieces as ag are xed at their outer ends to part Serial No.308,569. (No model.)

inner ends are supported by metal braces a4, fixed to them and to upperstationary guideplates vD D, which, with lower stationary guide-plates EE, are fixed to the opposite side Walls a ct of the frame. These piecesa3 give substantial support to the frame A on the legs B, which arefitted to them and suitably fastened.

The metal braces CL4 are shown in full lines in Fig. 1 and theirpositions are indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

To the cross-bar a2 of the frame A are fixed the outer ends of a pair ofbars F F,which slide by suitable tongue-and-groove joints in guide-barsf, fixed, preferably, by screws to the under side of the main unbrokentop board or plate G of the table and which, with the two end pieces H Hof both frames, form the complete top of the table when it is infully-contracted condition.

The end board or piece H of the table-top is hung by hinges h to the topof the end wall a of the frame A, and its free inner edge portion 7L',which is beveled upward and outward at the under side, acts as a latchor stop between the top plate G and the iirst narrow strip or slat ofthe adjacent rolling or flexible section of the table-top, or betweenany two strips or slats thereof, to lock the table-top at any desireddegree of extensibility, as hereinafter more fully explained.

Under the hinged top'piece Il and in a recess in the end wall ct of theframe A is placed a suitable spring I, preferably of spiral form, andwhich raises the piece II on its hinges when it is unlatched. y Thecatch for the piece H consists of a headed pin J, iixed to its underside and adapted to be engaged or overlooked by the hook-head of aspring-latch K, which is fastened at its lower end to the end wall ct ofthe frame.

To the latch K is connected a pin la, which extends through theframe-wall olJ and may be pushed in to throw the latch back and releasethe catch .I and allow the spring I to automatically raise the top pieceII on its hinges to allow lengthwise readj ustment of the table, and bysimply lowering the piece H its catch .I will automatically engage thelatch K to hold said top piece down level with the main top plate G orone or more of the series of the lower edge of the end wall a and attheir slats L, which may then constitute the exten- TOO sible andcontractible portion of the tabletop.

The main unbroken top board or plate G of the table is as long as thecombined lengths of the two end frames A A from the inner edges of theirhinged or :movable end pieces H H to the inner ends oi' said frames, sothat when the table is fully contracted the opposite ends of the toppiece G will make a close joint with the inner edges of the top parts IlH, while the two end frames will make a close joint at their abuttinginner ends.

Then the table is constructed to be exten sible at both ends, as shownin the drawings, a web M, of canvas, leather, or anyother suitableexible material, which is secured by glue or other otherwise to theunder side of the main top G, will be extended endwise each waytherefrom for any length required to allow a series of slats L ot anydesired number to be glued or otherwise fastened at their lower facesonly to the web at each end of the main top G.

The hereinbeforc mentioned guide -plates D E are connected in pairs oneabove the other lo the opposite sides a a of cach end frame A and to thecross-bar a2 thereof, as most clearly shown in Figs. Q and 3 of thedrawings.

The guide-plates D are each provided at its upper face with alongitudinally-ranging dovetail rail (l, and the guide-plates E, whichare located below the guides D, have rounded opposite ends and areprovided all around, or at top, bottom, and both ends, with a continuousdovetail rail e. The doveta-il guide-rails d e at the same side of thetable lie in the same vertical plane.

The lnain top board or plate G and all the slats L of the rolling topportion ofthe table are provided at their under sides and near cach sideof the table with undercut or dovetail grooves my, into which thedovetail guiderails d e are adapted to pass loosely. The cntirc tabletopG L is thus free to be shifted endwise of the table, the main top Gsliding only on the rails CZ of the upper guide-pieces D, while therolling strip portions L of the top slide by their dovetail grooves onthe dovetail rails d of the upper guides D, and also upon and around thecontinuous dovetail rails e of the lower guides E of cach end frame A ofthe table.

To the under side and lengthwise center of the main top G is fixed atransversely-ranging block g. (See Figs. l and 2 of the drawings.) Iprefer to fix to this block an intermediate leg B', which extends to thefloor as asupport to the table-top portion G, and is provided withornamental lateral projections b b', extending from opposite sides ofit, and which, when the table is fully closed, abut the inner legs B ofthe two end sections of the table and extend in horizontal alignmentwith the stay-bars or frame-work b between the two pairs of end legs ofeach end frame A of the table.

Each of the end sections A of the table is locked to the center block gwhen the table is fully closed by means of a latch device which engagesa catch -plate fixed to the block. This special latch device is shown indetail in Figs. JC and 5 of the drawings, and consists of a latch-bar N,which has a hookhead 'n and is pivoted at 1L to swing vertic'ally on anarm O, which is itself preferably pivoted to swing horizontally on a pinor screw o, which is fixed in ametal plate l, secured to the under faceand inner end of one of the boards o1' pieces a3 of the end frame A otthe table. Stop-pins p 1) on the plate P limit the turning movement ofthe arm O and latch N on the pin o, and a spring R, held to the plate Pand acting on the back end of the arm O, holds it to whichever stop-pinp or p it may be adjusted. When the arm is swung over to the pin j), itprojects from the frame-piece a3, so as to hold the latch N in positionto engage the downwardlybent end or iianges of the catch-plate S,whereupon a screw T, which is threaded into the outer end of thea11n,i's turned to lift the outer end or hea-d a ot` the latch and causeit to press on the catch-plate flange s, and thereby draw the parts a gfirmly together and hold the end frame A securely to the block g, andconsequently to the main top G, to which this block is fixed. By turningback or lowering the screw T the latch N will fall or will be carrieddown clear of the catchplate by a spring U, which is held to thelatch-pivot and bears by opposite ends on the latch and arm N O. Vhenthe latch is thus disengaged from the catch-plate, the arm 0 will beswung around to stop against the pin p on the plate P,where it will beheld bythe springRwithin the endof the piece a and out of danger ofbeing struck and damaged by the catch-plate S the next time the closingend frame strikes the blockg on the main top plate of the table. Bymaking the latch-arm O to swing horizontally and fitting thevertically-movable screw T in it so as t0 bear up against the latch-barN, as above described, it is obvious that the screw need be lowered buta triiie to allow the latch-head to swing around behind the flange softhe catch-plate as the arm O is swung around on its pin o; hence but afew turns of the screw are required to either loosen or securely lockthe closed joint between the block g and either of the end portions A Bof the table, latches N O 'l U are held one to the righthand piece a3 ofone end frame A of the table and the other to the left-hand piece d ofthe other end frame of the table.

The operations of extending and contracting the table are very simpleand are easily Y performed. When the table is wholly closed,

the inner edges or portions 7L of the two hinged end top plates ll IIwill be held by their latches J K down snugly between the adjacent endof the main top G and the first slats L of the two rolling seriesofslats, as shown at the left-hand end of Fig. l of the The IOO

IIO

drawings,'and both latches N N will be locked to the catch-plates S S ofboth end frames A A, and the table in this contracted condition oradjustment can be grasped and moved or rolled about without danger ofaccidental extension of it so long as the latch-pins 7: and latch-screwsT remain undisturbed. To pre. Vent accidental operation of the latchesK, I may keep the outer ends of their push-pins 7e fiush with -or backof the face of the ends of the flanges A, as shown at the right-hand endof Fig. l of the drawings. It will be noticed that when the top portionsG H are in contact and the end parts l-I are latched down all the slatsL held to the flexible web M will be within the end frames A, and forthe most part will be rolled around the lower guides E at opposite sidesof t-he table, it' being understood that the slats are held to saidguides as they curl or curve'around them by their dovetail slots, whichfit the dovetail rails e of the slides. Should the table be fully closedor contracted and should it be desired to extend it at one end only, thepin 7c at that end will be pushed in, which will disengage the latch Kfrom the catch J on the hinged top plate H, which will be instantlyraised by the spring I, as indicated by the dotted lines atthe'right-hand end of Fig. l of the drawings, and after the screw T ofthe latch N at that end of the table is slackened and the arm O is swungaround on its pivot o to the stop p the end frame A will be drawnoutward, and while it moves by its inner slides F on the guide-rails f,fixed to the main top G, the slats L will be drawn outward and upward,from the dovetail rail e of the lower guides E, and their dovetailbottom grooves will, as they rise to the level of the main top G, engagethe dovetail rails d of the upper guides D to hold the slats down to atrue level to form part of a substantial top to the table. Should thetable not be long enough when extended at one end, it may in like mannerbe extended at both ends. It is obvious that the table may be extendedat one or both ends to any desired degree which will allow the latch endh of the end top piece H to be lowered and latched between any two ofthe slats L,which will lock the table securely at the requiredadjustment. To contract the table again, the pin 7c at the extended endwill be pushed in to disengage the latch K from the catch .I on the toppiece H, which then vwill rise, and after the extended end of the tableis Vpushed in the latch-arm O will be swung around to swing its latch Naround behind the catch S on the center block g, and the screw T willthen be turned to force the latch-head to the catch and bind or lock thelately-closed section fast to the rest of the table, and the top piece Hwill then be swung down and secured by the latch K. The table may bemade with extensible slat top sectionsL at one end only of it andconnected by a flexible web to a xed main top plate which will extendclear to the other end of the table, as will readily be understood.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters' Patent, is-

l. An extension-table constructed with an end frame, a main top platethereon, a flexible web held to said plate, a series of slats attachedto said web and forming a flexible rolling top for the table, and an endtop piece hinged to the frame and adapted to lock at its inner edgebetween the main top plate and the adjacent slat of the flexible top orbetween any two slats of said top, substantially as herein set forth.

2. An extension-table constructed with an end frame, a main top platethereon, a iiexible web held to said plate, a series of slats attachedto said web and forming a flexible rolling top for the table, an end toppiece hinged to the frame and adapted to lock upon and between theflexible top slats, and a detent holding the hinged end top piece inlocking position, substantially as herein set forth.

3. An extension-table constructed with an -end frame, a main top platethereon, a flexible web held to said plate, a series of slats attachedto said web and forming a flexible rolling top for the table, an end toppiece hinged to the frame and adapted to lock at its inner edge onto andbetween the flexible top slats, and a spring raising the hinged end toppiece when the detent is disengaged, substantially as herein set forth.

4. In an extension-table, the combination, with an end frame providedwith upper guides D d and lower rounded guides E e, of a main top plateG, fitted to the guides D d, a web M, connected to said top G, a seriesof strips L, held to the web and vadapted to the guides D d and E e, ahinged end top piece H, having an inner edge h', adapted to lock withthe parts G L, and a latch-detent for the lowered piece H, substantiallyas herein set forth.

5. In an extension-table, the combination, with an end frame, a main topplate, a series of strips connected to the plate and forming a flexibletop for the table, an end top piece H, hinged to the frame and having aninner edge h', adapted to lock with the main top plate and top strips, acatch J on said piece H, a latch K, held to the frame and adapted toengage the catch when the piece H is lowered, and a push-pin k at theend of the frame and adapted to disengage the latch and catch,substantially as herein set forth.A

6. The combination, in an extension-table, of two end frames providedwith extensionslides F and table-top guides D Cl E e, a mainV top plateG, fitted to the guides D d and havirg slides f, to which those F of theend frames are adapted, a flexible web or connection fastened to andextending from both ends of said plate G, a series of slats L, forming arolling top section and attached to the flexible connection at each endof the plate G and IOO fitted to the guides D (l and E e, and adapted toroll within the end frames, a top piece II, hinged to the outer end ofeach end frame and adapted to lockonto the slats L, and a latch ordetent holding each end piece II down to said slats, substantially asdescribed, for the purposes set forth.

7. In an extension-table, the combination, with the main top plate ofthe table and an extensible frame movable relatively to said top, of acatch on the top, an arm on the end frame, a latch pivoted to said armfor vertical movement, and a screw fitted in the arln and adapted topress the latch to the catch, substantially as herein set forth.

S. In an extension-table, the combination, with the main top plate ofthe table and an extensible frame movable relatively to said top, of acatch on the top, an arm pivoted on the end frame for horizontalmovement, a latch pivoted to said arm for vertical movement, and a screwfitted in the arm and adapted to press the latch to the catch,substantially as described, for the purposes set forth.

9. In an extension-table, the combination, i

with an end frame and a main top plate G, of a block g, fixed to theplate G and provided with a catch and a latch held to the end frame andconsisting of an arm, a latch-bar N n, pivoted thereto for verticalmovement, anda screw T, threaded into the arm and adapted to the latch,substantially as herein set forth.

10. In an extension-table, the combination, .with an end frame and amain top plate G, of a block g, fixed to the plate G and provided with acatch S .s and a latch device held to the end frame and consisting of anarm O, pivoted to the end frame for horizontal movement, a' latch Nn,pivoted to the arm for vertical movement, and a screw T, threaded intothe arm and adapted to the latch, substantially as herein set forth.

ll. In an extension-table, the combination, with its end frame and a topplate provided with a block g, ot a catch S s on the block, an arm O,pivoted to the end frame, a spring R, actin g on the arm, stops p p onthe end frame for the arm, a latch N, pivoted to the arm, and a screw Tin the arm, adapted to press the latch N to the catch S, substantiallyas herein set forth.

GEORGE SCHMITT Witnesses:

HENRY L. GOODWIN, C. SEDGWICK.

